Prisoners Review
RYAN: This is a new suspenseful crime thriller starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viloa Davis, Terence Howard, and others and it’s a very dark family drama, really.
CAROLINE: The trailer looks so amazing – I’m dying to see it. How was it?
RYAN: It’s very good – it’s a bit slow and long but it’s a solid movie. I really enjoyed the whole thing and if it’s not edge of your seat, it’s very intense in spurts throughout.
CAROLINE: I love an intense drama. How was Hugh and his Huge Ackman?
RYAN: Seriously, he can do no wrong, you know that. He’s so good and this cannot have been a comfortable role to play because he’s basically going crazy over his daughter’s disappearance. He and Maria Bello, Viola, Terence – all as parents of missing children are effective in this.
CAROLINE: I like them all. Do you think there are any Oscar worthy performances here?
RYAN: It didn’t really hit me that way. The film is shot beautifully with some excellent cinematography and they do such a good job at making the creepy characters creepy. Although some dramatic moments made me audibly gasp, no moment really impacted me the way an Oscar moment should.
CAROLINE: I know what you mean. There’s not too much buzz about it anyway, aside for just a good cast in a drama. How was Paul Dano? He’s so easily seen as a weirdo.
RYAN: Totally and he’s definitely hard to figure out in this movie but he gives a good performance. Since he’s not the hottest guy in Hollywood, he’s loses himself well into random characters. The same can be said for Melissa Leo.
CAROLINE: It looks like they aged her for this.
RYAN: Well her hair and wardrobe do her no favors, that’s for sure. She’s excellent though and I’m glad to see her in this movie.
CAROLINE: Does it remind you of any other movies like this?
RYAN: It’s a little bit Gone Baby Gone and The Lovely Bones with a dash of Taken.
CAROLINE: That paints a very clear picture, since I’ve seen all of those movies.
RYAN: I can’t really decide whether the title is clever or lazy. I could easily argue both sides.
CAROLINE: I guess it doesn’t always have to relate to the movie but it’s not based on a book.
RYAN: I can’t say it’s better than other movies in the genre but it’s along those lines and I did really enjoy it. It’s smart, sad and complicated but intriguing and I love the suspense that builds as you’re trying to figure out what happened to the girls along with the cast.
CAROLINE: That’s a good intrigue.
RYAN: This one is worth seeing for the cast and the story. It’s brilliantly directed and unfolds well. Jake and Hugh both give wonderful performances and I liked their scenes together. It is heart-wrenching at times but you like a movie to touch you.
